Biodiversity legislation

The legislative framework for native vegetation management, private land conservation, threatened species and other protected native animals and plants in New South Wales has been reformed. More details about the reforms are available on the biodiversity legislation review page.

Relevant legislation

Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

The Biodiversity Conservation (BC) Act, the Local Land Services (LLSA) Amendment Act, and the supporting Regulations and products, establish a modern and integrated legislative framework for land management and biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity elements include major innovations to offsetting and private land conservation, as well as improvements to threatened species conservation and how we manage human-wildlife interactions.

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974

Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, the Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage is responsible for the care, control and management of all national parks, historic sites, nature reserves and Aboriginal areas. State conservation areas, karst conservation reserves and regional parks are also administered under the Act.

Repealed legislation

The biodiversity conservation and land management reforms repeal several existing Acts, in particular the Native Vegetation Act 2003, Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and the Nature Conservation Trust Act 2001. Also repealed are the animal and plant provisions of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.

The Biodiversity Conservation (Savings and Transitions) Regulation saves important provisions from legislation and regulations that has been repealed by the new legislation and establishes transitional arrangements for the reforms.

More information about the transitional arrangements for the Biodiversity Conservation Act and the Biodiversity Offset Scheme.